By Bren O'Brien
The ongoing impasse over the varying legality of the use of Regu-Mate in different states in Australia could continue for another 12 months with Racing Australia to conduct further studies on the impact of the drug via field tests.
Andrew Nicholl, the CEO of the Australian Trainers Association, said trainers were 'very frustrated' by the delay in Racing Australia making a ruling on the use of altrenogest, which is sold as Regu-Mate.
As it currently stands, Victoria has effectively banned its use because of trace elements of anabolic steroids, while New South Wales allows Regu-Mate use to continue, with a tolerance for positive tests to inconsequential amounts of trendione or trenbolone.
The farcical nature of the difference in regulation between the two states was highlighted last weekend when Group 1 winning mare Aloisia (Azamour {Ire}) returned to form with a second in the G2 Villers S at Randwick, a performance her co-trainer Ciaron Maher attributed to her being able to use Regu-Mate in New South Wales.
He confirmed that the mare would remain racing in New South Wales because she needed Regu-Mate, which prevents fillies and mares from coming into season, to perform at her best.
Bob Peters, owner of Group 1 winning Western Australian filly Arcadia Queen (Pierro), has indicated that that filly would target feature autumn races in Sydney rather than Melbourne because she also required Regu-Mate.
RA asks for more evidence
A recent meeting convened by Racing Australia was expected to resolve the division between the two states, but instead it was determined more studies were needed.
"The bottom line for us is that while there is a pulse, sadly it looks like this matter is going to continue onto 2019 without a resolution." - Andrew Nicholl, Australian Trainers Association CEO
"We really needed some definitive direction to come out of that meeting and sadly what has happened, it looks likely that Racing Australia will go down the path of doing some more study of Regu-Mate, on the effect it might have on fillies and mares," Nicholl told RSN's Racing Pulse.
It has been indicated that G1 Kingston Town winner Arcadia Queen will be given a chance to race in NSW over Vic due to the Regu-Mate ban
"It's likely they will embark on a population study, which will occur in a controlled environment and will be a clinical study and they will want to see the effect that Regu- Mate being given to the fillies has over a period of time. Whether that be three months, six months or 12 months those details need to be worked out."
"The bottom line for us is that while there is a pulse, sadly it looks like this matter is going to continue onto 2019 without a resolution."
Trace elements of steroids
Nicholl said earlier studies done of broodmares weren't sufficient for RA to extend to fillies and mares in work, but he remains frustrated by the delay given the other evidence that already exists that the levels of steroids detected in Regu-Mate have no effect.
"To me and many others, there is simply an overwhelming base of evidence there," he said.
"To me and many others, there is simply an overwhelming base of evidence there." - Andrew Nicholl
"No.1 we are talking about a trace element, let’s be very, very clear about that. It’s a trace element at levels that are inconsequential, insignificant and have been identified as being sub therapeutic by the experts," he said.
Nicholl said that the increased sophistication of equipment had enabled state-based integrity services to more easily detect those trace levels.
He hit out at the 'purist' position that the detection of the anabolic steroids should prevent Regu - Mate from being used by racehorses.
"We've been on this for some weeks and months now, is that there is a purist position that racing adopts and has adopted for many years, which is that there is a zero tolerance level. That's what we are fighting with the Regu-Mate situation," he said
"They accept that it is at trace levels, they accept it is inconsequential. But that's not their job, their job is to ensure the international rules of racing, that say that anabolic steroids are banned, are followed."
'Mares being forced into retirement'
Nicholl said the ruling in Victoria, which came into place in September, was already having a far greater effect than trainers taking their horses north of the border to race.
"I look at the races across the country every day. I see the fillies and mares that are hard to handle, I hear the evidence that comes from the working stables about how it is difficult to manage and maintain these horses in these environments," he said.
"I look at the races across the country every day. I see the fillies and mares that are hard to handle." - Andrew Nicholl
"There are a number of fillies and mares that are being retired because they are simply at an age or a level where they are unmanageable."
Alternative not viable, say trainers
Racing Victoria recommended the use of short acting injectable progesterone, but Nicholl said the experience of trainers is that it is nowhere near as effective.
Australian Trainers Association CEO, Andrew Nicholl (left)
"There has been a short period of time to test the success or otherwise of that product. But in that short period the success rate of stables that I've been advised of is about 50 per cent or less, whereas Regu-Mate is 95 per cent successful," he said.
"There has been a short period of time to test the success or otherwise of that product." - Andrew Nicholl
Nicholl said the framework of racing in Australia, where horses race more frequently, meant there was a much greater need for a solution such as Regu-Mate as opposed to in overseas jurisdictions, where its use is banned.
He feels that the timeframe for a solution to the issue needs to be drastically revised.
"We need this product to support the framework we’ve created of ourselves," he said. "The way things are going, I can't see a solution until at least 2020."
